Vehicle-body.



No. 837,355. PATBNTED DEC. 4, 1906. F. STRATTON.

VEHICLE BODY.

APPLIoATIoN FILED sBPT.5.19o5.

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PATENTED DEG. 4, 1906. F. STRATTON.

VEHICLE BODY.

APPLIOATION FILED sBPT.5.1.9o5.

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Witnesses.

UNTTE sTATEs. PATENT OFFTOE.

FRANKLIN sTRATTON, OF'BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE sTRATTON ROTATrNe ENGINE OO., OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

vEH|oLE-BoDY.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed September 5,1905. Serial No. 276.954.

Auseful Improvement in Vehicle-Bodies, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved body for vehicles, automobiles, and the like 3 and it consists of a body having a folding seat, a fixed seat, and means arranged to be conveniently manipulated by an occupant of the fixed seat for closing or opening said folding seat.

The object of the invention is to arrange means for opening or closing a folding'` seat without subjecting` an occupant or operator to the inconvenience of stepping from his seat.

ln the preferred adaptation shown in the drawings the body has a xed front seat and a folding rear seat and means for opening and closing said folding seat, including an operating-lever extending Within convenient reach of an occupant of the front seat.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a central longitudinal section through the improved vehicle-body, showing the folding seat in open position, the operating-lever being also shown in the position it assumes when the folding seat is closed in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the rear folding seat, a section being taken through the vehicle-body on line al a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism for operating the folding seat, the frame of the seat and a portion of the vehicle-body being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached view of the operating-lever. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detached side and front views of one of the short forked connecting-links. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detached plan view of the springcatch on the front seat for retaining the operating-lever in its substantially vertical position. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the spring-catch on the vehicle-dash for retaining the operating-lever in its lower position.

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal section through the rear portion of the vehicle-body, Y

showing the rear seat in its folded or closed position. Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary side and plan views of the rear end of one of the sill-irons. Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the rock-shaft. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detached front view of the lever for operating the lazy-back and its pivoting-block. Figs. 14 and 15 are enlarged detached front and plan views of one of the hinge members which connect the lazy-back to the main portion of the seat. Fig. 16 is a'n enlarged detached side view of one of the lower members of the hinge connection. Fig. 17 is a side view of the improved vehiclebody, showing the folding seat in closed or folded position in full lines and in its open position in dotted lines.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction, likey numerals designate like parts.

The body consists of the body proper, 1, a fixed front seat 2, a folding rear seat, an mechanism for opening and closing said rear seat. The rear seat is composed of the seat 3 itself, which is pivoted or hinged at its lower extremity to the; rear of the body 1, and a lazy-back 4, pivoted or hinged to the upper portion of the back of the seat 3.

The mechanism for opening and closing the rear seat comprises a series of pivotal connections which are controlled by an operating-lever located in the front portion of the body proper within convenient reach of an occupant of the front seat. The pivotal connections consist of angular rods or levers arranged in two series, one series on each side of the seat, and as both are of precisely the same construction but one series will be described, the reference-numerals, however, being applied to like members on both sides.

The rear seat 3 has an angular bar 5 secured thereto by screws, the lower end 6 of which is pivoted to the rear end 7 of the silliron 8. The rear end of the sill-iron curves upward and is then bent upon itself to form a fork between which the anoular bar 5 is pivoted. A diagonally-extending lever 9 is pivoted at its upper end to the horizontal portion of the angular bar 5, and the lower end of the lever is bent upon itself to form a fork, between which the rear end of a short forked connecting-link 10 is pivoted. The lever 9 is pivoted at an intermediate point -11 to the upper rear end of a curved bar 12, the front end of which is pivoted in a forked portion 13 in the sill-iron. (See Figs. 2 'and 3.) The pivot 11 forms a movable fulcrum upon which theilever Q'turns, the fulcrumhaving a slight swinging movement from the sill-iron. The front end of the short forked connectinglink 10 is pivoted to an angular crank 14, formed integral with a rock-shaft 15. This rock-shaft is supported beneath the vehiclebodyin bearings 16. (See Fig. 2.) The angular cranks 14 pass through and operate in openings in the oor of the vehicle.

A connecting-rod `l7 is pivoted at its rear end tofthe front-'end ofione of-the short forked connecting-links 10 at the pivoting-pointof `said link and the angular vcrank .14. The connecting-rod '17 extends forward rand lis `pivotedsat l'its 'front end to van intermediate point '18 -on an operating-lever 19. The 'lower end of thisoperating-'lever is pivotedat 20 vto la Fforked portion of the sill-iron. (See IIFig. 1..) Theupper end of the lever is -bent at right angles to formahandle 21, which is grasped fbyt'heoperator when it is desired to open or closeitheffolding seat. The lever 19 lis retainedinfits lower position, as shown in Fig. i1, by-'a -springhookor catch 22, formed as shown in Fig. 8. This catch is secured to fthe under side of the dash yand projects through. anopeningftherein. A spring-catch 22a, formed as shown .in Fig. 7, is secured to the front seat 2 and retains the operating- Ilever 4when 1in .its vertical position, substanvtiallyas shown'in dottedlines in Filg. 1,

The rear portion-ofthe bodyoft e vehicle -isformed as shown lin Figs. 1 and 9, the floor 23 terminating in a curved portion 24, which 'in Iturn terminates in a vertical portion 25. This not only gives a pleasing iinishto the y\vehicle,'bnt also serves 'toclose the opening, -which Vwouldy otherwise prove `unsightly when `the rear seat is closed, and to conceal and Kprotectfthe operating mechanism ofthe seat. The lazy-'back 4 is automatically folded into thefpositionshown Fig. 9 .by ananguflar lever 26, Vthelower end of whichis pivoted 'to a block 2.7, fastened, to the curved portion 24 Vof the 'vehicle-body. The upper end of etherlever 26 is pivoted to a forked portion 28 on 'the :upper member 29 ofthe .hinge which ij oins thellaz'y-bac'k fto the vpermanentback of ythe-seat 3. Whenthe seat is folded,'thellever 26turns the lazy-back on the hinge 30 and-it vassumesthe position shownin Fig. 9.

Theoperation of the folding seat isvas lfol- :lows': The mechanism being in the .position showninFig. 1,the-.o erating-lever 19 is released from .the catc 22, attached to the dash, by simply pressing thereon and is :fmoved'rearward on its .pivot from a-substan- Vtiallyhorizontal :position into the substanitially vertical position lshown in dotted lineszon Fig. 1 by an yoccupant-of the fixed forward seat. This moves the connectingrod 17'backwardandfrocks theshaft, atthe ASametime operating vall ithe ypivoted links .and

1levers and bringing'them'into position shown in Fig. 9, and thereby closing the rear folding seat. The operating-lever 19 islocked in its substantially vertical .position yby forcing its forward end under thef spring 22a, attached to the .front seat. The folding seat is opened by a reverse movement of the operating-lever.

The great advantage of this construction is that the folding seat can ybe opened or closed very quickly and conveniently by an occupant of another seat without said occupant leaving `the seat, stepping lfrom the body, or inconvenientlyiturningor chang-lng his .position on said seat. Otheradvantages yreside in the simplicity, comparative cheapness, and great strength'of the various parts.

I claimasm-y invention- 1 Ina device of the classfdescribed, albody having a plurality of -seats yone o'f which is movable to open or close andl ano ther of which is iixed in position on `the fbody, and means for opening `and :closing said movable seat adapted-tobe conveniently manipulatedfrom the fixed seat.

2. In a device of the class described, a'body lhaving a plurality-ofseats one of vwhich is movable to open or close andanotherofwhich is yfixed in position on the body, .and `means lfor opening or closing said `movable .seat

adaptedto be conveniently manipulatedfrom the fixed seat, lincluding yan-operating-lever extending within convenient reach of .an occupant of said fixed seat.

3. In a-devioeof the class described,'abod\y having a pluralityfof seatsone of which 'is ymovable 'to open or close and another of which is lfixed in position on the body, .means for opening and closing said movable seatfadapted to beconveniently manipulated-from the xed seat including an operating-:lever fextending within convenient reach of van occupant of the 'fixed' seat,.and devicesforllocking said lever in either of its positions, "whereby the movable seat is 'locked in iplace when `either open or closed.

4. Ina device of the class described, abod-.y having -a :plurality of seats one =.of which yis movabletoopenor close and ano ther olf which is fixed in position on .the body, means for opening and closingsaid `mova'blezseat adapted to :be conveniently manipulated from the fixed seat including .an operating-:lever `extending within co nvenient :reach of ran' o ccu- -pantofthe xed seat, a catch attached 'to the 1body for locking .the lever infone-.cfrits positions and acatch attached tozone of the seats for locking VVthe .lever in .another .of its positions.

5. Ina device-of theclass described,.abo'd.

-a seat fixed'to said bodyfaseat hinged to said body, mechanism for op eningandclosingsaid hinged seat :including ran operating-lever -lo cated'infront of theifixed seat andwithin. conl-venient reach of anoccupant'of said dixed IOO IIC

and means whereby the lazy-back will automatically open or close as the hinged seat opens or closes.

6. In a device ofthe class described, a body, a front seat fixed to said body, a rear seat hinged to said body, an operating-lever located in front of the front seat and within convenient reach of an occupant of said front seat and connecting means between the hinged seat and operating-lever, whereby the hinged seat is opened and closedv by movement of the operating-lever.

7. In a device of the class described, a body, a seat hinged to said body, a rock-shaft having support from the body and having a crank, a series of connections between the hinged seat and the crank, an operating-lever and a rod connecting the operating-lever to the series of connections whereby the hinged seat is opened and closed by the operatinglever.

8. In a device of the class described, a body, a seat hinged to said body, a rock-shaft having support from the body and having a crank at each end, a series of connections between the hinged seat and each of the cranks, an operating-lever and a rod connecting the operating-lever to at least one of the series of connections, whereby the hinged seat is opened and closed by the operating-lever.

9. In a device of the classdescribed, a body, a front seat iiXed rigidly to said body, a rear seat hinged to said body, and mechanism for opening or closing said rear seatincluding an operating-lever located in front of and within convenient reach of an occupant of the front seat.

10. In a device of the class described, a body, a seat fixed rigidly'to said body, a seat hinged to said body and mechanism for opening and closing said hinged seat including an operating-lever in front of and adapted to be conveniently manipulated Jfrom the fixed seat.-

11. A body having a movable rear portion adapted to be opened to constitute a seat and to be closed upon said body, and mechanism for opening and closing said body including an operating-lever located in the front portion of said body.

12. A body having a movable rearportion adapted to be opened to constitute a seat and to be closed upon said body, andalaZy-back for said movable portion arranged to open or close in unison with the movable portion, a ixed front seat and means for moving said movable rear portion including an operatinglever located within convenient reach of an occupant of the fixed front seat.

FRANKLIN STRATTON.

Witnesses:

R. E. ERDMAN, A. J. SANGsTER. n l. 

